Breech-loading firearm.



Patented Sept. 2, I902..

J. BINGETTE.

BREECH LOADING FIREARM.

\ (Appligatio'n fl led. July 31, 1901.)

2 Sheats-8haat I.

(No Madel.)

Witnesses Attorneys rm: NORRIS PETERS-30 PHDTO-L\THO.. WASHINGTON: u. c,

No. 708,304. Patented S8pt..2, 1902 J. BINCETTE.

BBEEGH LOADING FIREARM. (Application filed July 31, 1001.

2 Sheets-Sheet Z (No Model.)

' Attbrneys JOCK/F) H'LUCQH e, Inv

' Witnesses;

ms PETERS 0a., wummg'mcu ASNINUTON, u.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JQSEPH BINCETTE, OF ST. CONSTANT, CANADA.

1 BREYECH-LOAVDING FIREARM."

SPECIFICATTON forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,304, dated September 2, 1902.

v Application filed J nly 31, 1901. Serial No. 70,326. (No model.)

To all whom it mlcty concern:

Be itknown that I, JOSEPH'BINOETTE, a subject of His Majestythe King of Great Britain, residing at St. Constant, countyof Laprairie, Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech- Loading Firearms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,- and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improved loading,

, unloading, and firing mechanism insmallarmsof that type wherein the'barrel is rigidly secured to" the gun-stock and the cartridge is inserted through a lateral opening on the side of the gun immediately behind the breech end of the barrel.

The essential feature of. the invention consists in a longitndinally-reciprocating bloclc or plate which overlies therear end of the breech in the firing position and has a de pending block carried thereb v, which block is adapted to act both asa breech-block and to carry the firing-pin, which discharges the cartridge, and also .to act as an actuator to re turn the hammer into cocked position after the'gun has been fired and in the act of reloading the piece. i A

The invention 'further includes a sliding extractor-collar which is carried on alongitu dinally-reciprocating bar located in a chainbar carries a depending tang, which is locked in position by a lever, whose front/end is carried backwardly to form the trigger-guard, and there is a sliding latch immediately behind the trigger, which catches the rear end of this lever and holds itin locked position until after the piece has been fired by pulling the trigger, whereupon the finger is slipped off the trigger and immediately strikes a vthumb-piece formed on this latch, so that the extractor-lever is immediately released and the cartridge extracted flfom the breech withoutfnrther movement on the part of the'user.

My. invention. consists, moreover, in the novel combination of devices and. in the construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, forming a 'ments.

part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of a firearm embodying my improve- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section takencentrally through the firearm and showing the partsin the position they occupy just after the piece has been'fired. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, showing the parts in the operation of recocking the piece, the empty cartridge-shell having been removed.

Fig. 4; is a transverse section through the firethe retaining-latchfor the extractor-lever.

. Fig. 12 is a fragmen tary longitudinal horizontal section through a part of the receiver, taken on the line 12 12 of Fig. 4.

The s'ame'numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The numeral 5 designates that portion of the stock of. the gun called the fsmall or .handle of the stock, but which is sometimes and which willbe herein termed the receiverjas being more appropriate, in that ;it is, chambered and destined to receive the ber immediately beneath the breech, which breech, lock, and trigger mechanism, which at 7, and the barrel firmly secured thereto at 8, and the said fore-end 7-forms a' solid continuation with the receiver or small of the stock, which is hollowed out to form a chamber 9, adapted toreceive the parts of the vbreech and firing mechanism, to be presently described. This chamber has parallel sides,

as indicated in Fig. 4, and is generally rectangular in section, being openat the top, and

the opening thus formed is covered by a longitudinal plate or piece 10, which may herein be conveniently termed the breech-plate, as it covers the breech of the gun'when in tractor-piece, and Fig. 11 is a similarview of l 'constitute my invention and form the operativepartsof the gun. Thebuttorshoulder piece of'the stockis shown at 6, the fore-end ICO opening and the upper side of the receiver, there being sliding ways formed thereon for this purpose, as indicated in Figs. 3, 4., and 5 of the drawings, and in order to form guiding means for the breech-plate it has formedon its under surface a rectangular longitudinal rib 11, which is of slightly less width than the chamber 9 and adapted to slide between the walls thereof. The rear end of the breechplate is tapered downwardly, as shown at 12, in order to form a continuation of the bend of the stock when the breech-plate is pushed into its forward position, (see Fig. 2,) and to retain the plate in sliding connection with the receiver the rib 11 is formed with lateral grooves 14, into which project the ends of screws which pass through openings in the sides of the receiver, as shown in Fig. 4, and the forward ends of the grooves 1% are adapted to be guided by the longitudinal ribs 15 formed on the front upper edge of the chamber 9, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Dependingfrom the lower side of the rib 11 on the breech-plate is a block 13, which is in line with the bore of the barrel and adapted to cover the same when the breech-plate is in firing position, as shown in Fig. 2-that is to .say, the block 13 serves the function of a breech-block; but it has the additional function of an actuator-tang to a'ctuate the hammer or firing-bolt of .the piece and push it back into cocked position. One side of the breech-block 13 is prolonged to form a rectangular fiat lug 14, the function of which is. to

same width as the chamber 9 and adapted to I .reciprocate therein longitudinally, as indiassist in closing the cartridge-slot 15, formed upon one side of the piece immediately back of the breech, it being necessary that the right side of the block 13, on which is located the lug 14, shall be of snflicient length to completely cover this slot when the piece is being fired.

The firing of the piece is accomplished by a slidable tiring-bolt, which is actuated or pushed forward upon its release from the sear by a coiled spring reacting against the rear end of the chamber 9, and this firing-bolt is of the form shown in Fig. 8 and made up of three main parts, which are formed integralthat is to say, a rectangular bolt or bar 16, which slides horizontally in a suitable recess 17, lying just below and rearwardly of the chamber a and forming a continuation thereof, this bolt havinga horizontal longitudinal slot 18 for the purpose hereinafter named, a hammer-block 19, carried just over the upper front end of the bolt 16 and destined to impinge upon the firing-pin, which will be hereinafter described, this block being of the cated in Figs. 2, 3, and 1, and a guide-stem 20, which projects rearwardly from the center of the block 19 and is received in a recess 21, forming a reduced continuation of the chamber 9 and of the same size as the stem 20, whereby the latter is adapted to assist in guiding the firing-bolt in its reciprocative movement, and, moreover, especially to form a stable support for the coiled mainspring 22, which is mounted to surround the stem 20 and bears at its front and rear ends, respectively, against the rear face of the hammerblock 19 and'the wall 23 of the chamber as shown. It will be seen from this construction that the spring 22 is adapted to impel the hammer-block and the entire firing-bolt forwardly to discharge the piece at the instant that the lower front edge of the bolt is'released by the nose 28 of the sear 21, which is mounted to reciprocate transversely-that is to say, at right angles to the motion of the firing-bolt in the vertical slot 26, situated just below the chamber 9 and having recessed guide-grooves 27, which guide the sear in its vertical motion. The longitudinal motion of the firing-bolt is limited by a pin 25, which passes from side to side of the recess 17 through the slot 18 in the bolt 16, so as to prevent the guide-stem 20 from leavingits recess when the breech-plate 10 is removed and to prevent the bolt from being impelled too far forwardly.

The sear 24 is actuated to release the firingbolt by a trigger-lever 30, pivoted at an intermediate point thereof upon a pin 32 and adapted to oscillate in a recess or chamber hollowed out in the under portion of the receiver, as shown, and the trigger has a concave finger-piece 33, upon which the finger of the operator presses upwardly when the piece is fired. The trigger-chamber extends considerably forward of the trigger-lever and sear, as shown, and its lower-side is partially closed by a bottom plate 31, which projects over the lower end of the slot 26, and between the bottom of the sear and the upper side of the plate 31 is located the sear-spring 34., which is in the shape of a V-shaped plate having the same width as the slot in which it is located and adapted to keep the searpressed upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3.

The nose of the trigger-lever 30,'projecting forwardly of the pivot 32, passes through an opening 29 in the searin order to operate the same to draw the sear when the finger-piece 33 is pressed, thus firing the piece.

The breech-block 13-is provided with a cylindrical longitudinal aperture 35, wherein slides the firing-pin 36, the same being pointed at its forward end, as shown in Fig. 6, so

as to strike the cap of the cartridge centrally and explode the same, while the rear end of the pin. 36 projects normally back of the rear face ofthe block 13 and is retained in this position by a coiled spring 37, which is seated in corresponding recesses 38,formed in the lower side of the pin 36 and block 13, respectively, so that the pin is retained yielding in its firing position ready to be struck by the hammer-block 19.

In front of the trigger-chamber of the receiver and just beneath the loading-chamber back of the breech which forms the front end of the chamber 9 there is a third chamber or recess 39, hollowed out in the fore-end ofthe piece, the same beingseparated from the trigger-chamber by a partition 40, and in it slotted or forked end of a latch-plate 65;

which is secured to the handle of the stock" just back of the trigger and covers a-recess 64,in which works a coiled spring 65, seated is pivotally mounted upon a transverse pin 43 the upturned end 42 of the extractor-lever 41, this lever being turned backwardly of its; pivot 43 and being shaped to form a triggerguard 56, which covers the finger-piece 33 of' the trigger-lever, and back of-the guard 56 itis formed with a nose or catch 57, which is received by the notch 58, formed in the rear end 59 of a sliding latch 60, the end 59 being formed with an oblique cam-face 61 just be low the notch 58 and withwhich the nose 57 engages, so as to push the latch backwardly when the extracto'r-leveris returned to its position over the triggerjand to enable it to snap into the notch58, as shown in Figs. 1" and 2. The latch-piece 60 is provided upon its-upper side with a projecting fin62, which isprovided with lateral grooves 63, so as to permit the latch-piece to'be passed over the at its front end against the'r'ear end of the fin 62, so as to keep the latch-piece'pressedforwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. ward'end of the latch-pieceGO is provided withadownwardly-projectingfinger piece66, whichjis located Within the nose '57 of the trigger-guard andj ust behindthe finger-piece 33 of the trigger, so that it will beseen-that on pulling the trigger the 'finger slipslimmediately back upon the finger-piece -66," and this being likewise V pulled the extractor-lever is released and caused to swing open both by" gravity and by the pressure of a spring 48, which'will be presently described; l

The extractor-piece, which is operated to withdraw the spentcartridge-shell from the firing-chamber, is shown in detail" in Fig. 10

and consists of alongitudinal bar or bolt 46,} operating in a corresponding recess 45, hav

ing its front end just beneath the breechof the barrel audits rear end extending back wardly'and communicating with the chamber 9 and the trigger-chamber. The bolt-46'has a tang 47 dependingfro'nrits lo werside, about midway thereof,which operates in the charm-- her 39, the latter being hollowed out rear wardly or formed with a notch 44' to permit the full movement of the extractor. The

tang 47, as will be seen, projects far enough downwardly to be engaged withtheupstandingend 42 of the extractor-lever, this end being located above the pivot 43,so thatth'e pressure of the coiled spring48, located in the forwardend of the recess 45 and abutting against the front wall 49thereof, will act to turn the extractor-lever about its pivot and simultaneously throw it open and project the bar 46 into its rearmost position,- as'shown in Fig. 3. The bar or bolt 46 carries on its upper sidela cartridge collar 50, which recipro-' cates in the firing-chamber forming-the for- The forl ward end of the receiver-chamber 9 and has a circular opening 51 therethrough adapted to form a socket for the cartridge-shell and whichis open at one. side, as shown at 52, opposite the cartridge-slot 15, to enable the head of a cartridge to be inserted thereinto. The socket 51 is provided at its reariend with a circumferential groove 53,"adapted to form a seat for the rim of the cartridge, the latter being placed in the slot 15, with its head and,

rim seated, respectively, in the socket 51 and groove 53, whereupon the collar, extractorbolt, and cartridge are pushed into forward orfiring position by the forward motion of the breech-block, as will be hereinafter explained, and=the tang 47 is brought back to the front-end of "the chamber 39 and locked in this position by the closing of the extractor-lever 41.

In order to lock the breech-plate in its forward or firing position against the recoil caused by the explosion of the cartridge,'I

provide the breech-plate,-on' the under side of one flange thereof, with a vertical rectanthis socket being adapted to receive the upper endof a spring-pressed locking-bolt 72, which operates in a suitable guide-groove 69, formed vertically in the outer side of the receiver and covered by a plate 70, so as to hold the bolt 72 in slidable'position. In the lower-end of the grooved-recess 69 is located a coiled spring 73, which abuts against the bottom of the groove and the lower end of the locking-bolt, soas to keep the same'resiliently pressed upward and to cause it to be projected into the socket 68 'as soon as the: plate has been pushed home forwardly intoits firing position. It will be seen that the breech-plate is thus locked firmly in position against the gular socket 68, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7,

recoil of the discharge; but when it is desired to loadthegun the locking-bolt 72 is disengaged from the breech-plate bydownward pressure exerted upon a finger-stud 74,which is screwed intothe locking-bolt and passes 7 through a slot 71in the plate'70, this stud being provided, preferably,with a milled head to facilitate the manipulation, as shown. The stud 74 is preferably made detachable from the locking-bolt, so that in case it is desired to permanently lock the piece against operation and to prevent unauthorized persons from using the gun the'stud 74 is simply unscrewed from its socket, and the breech-plate will thus be firmly locked in position and cannot be operated to-reload the gun,'especially if the secret of the locking-bolt or its mode ofoperation be not understood, as will generally be thecase by a stranger attempting to operate it. If, on the other hand, it be simply desired to lock the breech-plate permanently, as during a period when the gun is being carried without it being desired to use the piece and to prevent the plate being accidentally pulled backby catching in objects, then the stud 74 is screwed-firmly against the back of the re ccss 69, so as to hold it in locked position.

,against the head 19 of the firing-bolt to retract it into cocked position, whereupon the beveled nose 28 of the sear 24 slips over the 'front end of the bolt 16, thus holding the piece cooked, and at the same time the block 13 is slid past the cartridge-opening 15, so as to permit the piece to be loaded, and the extractorlever is released by pressing the finger against the finger-piece 66 of the latch 60,whereupon the spring 48 swings the extractor-lever into the position shown in Fig. 3 and throws the extractor-bolt carrying the collar 50,with the empty shell,backwardly,withdrawing it from the breech of the gun and throwing it opposite the slot 15,whence it is thrown by slightly tipping the gun toward the right or by a quick jerk in that direction. The several parts of the apparatus will now be in the positions shown in Fig. 3. A fresh cartridge is now inserted through the slot 15,- the head and rim thereof being pushed into the socket 51 in the collar 50. The next operation is to push the breech plate 10 forwardly, whereupon the block 13 carries the collar 50, the cartridge, and the extractor-bolt forward against the pressure of the spring 48 until the locking-bolt 72 snaps into the socket 6S, and, lastly, the extractor-lever is closed, when the piece is ready for firing. Upon pulling the trigger the sear 24 will be withdrawn from the firing-bolt, causing it to be projected Violently forward by the pressure of the spring 22 and to strike against the head of the firing-pin 36, projecting it in turn into the cap of the cartridge and exploding the latter. At this point the various parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, and

- immediately after firing the finger holding the trigger will slip back upon the fingerpiece 66 to release the extractor-lever, the thumb will be operated to press downwardly upon the stud 74, and the breech-plate 10 again drawn back to recock the firearm and extract the empty shell, as before, when the cycle of operations is ready to be repeated.

The advantages of my improved loading and firing mechanism have been hereinbefore set forth and will now be evident to those skilled in the art of firearms, and it may be added, further, by way of explanation that the firearm hereinbefore described is simple in construction and not apt to get out of order and that the entire cycle of operations necessary in operating the gun is embodied in three movements-to wit, those of the extractor-lever, the locking-bolt, and the breech-plate, respectively, these being operated successively and in the order named, so that no confusion will ordinarily take place nor delay caused in the successive firing of the cartridges, and the rapidity with which the latter may be done is considerably increased.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise form shown, for many of the details may be changed in form or position without affecting the operativeness or utility of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as are included in the scope of the following claims.

I claim 1. A breech mechanism for firearms comprising a sliding breech-plate covering the upper side of the receiver-chamber, a breechblock depending from said plate, a firing-pin resiliently mounted in said breech-block and projected through the front end thereof, a firing-bolt slidable in a recess in the receiver and having a head to engage said firing-pin and to be engaged by said breech-block when the latter is retracted, a sear engaging said firing-bolt when retracted, a spring to project said firing-bolt forwardly when released, and a transverse latch-bolt 71 projected into a slot in the breech-plate to lock it in advanced position.

2. A breech mechanism for firearms comprising a breech-plate adapted to reciprocate on the upper side of the receiver and to cover the receiver-chamber, a breech-block depending from the lower side of said breech-plate and to close the end of the barrel, a firingpin resiliently mounted in said breech-block, a firing-bolt having a tang 16 sliding in a longitudinal recess in the receiver-chamber, and ahead to strike said firing-pin and to be engaged by the rear face of said breechblock to retract the bolt when the breechplate is retracted, a transverse pin passing through a slot in said tang to limit the movement of said firing-bolt, a guide-stem 20 mounted on the head of said firing-bolt parallel with and above the tang thereof and guided in a longitudinal recess in the rear end of the receiver-chamber, a coiled spring mounted on said guide-stem, a vertically-reciprocating sear having a nose to engage over the front end of said firing-bolt when retracted, a trigger-lever having a finger-piece and an arm engaging said sear to move it vertically, and means for locking said breechplate in forward position.

3. A breech mechanism for firearms comprising a breech-plate to reciprocate on the upper side of the receiver and to cover the receiver-chamber, a breech-block depending from the lower side of said breech-plate to close the end of the barrel, a firing-pin resiliently mounted in said breech-block, a firing bolt having a tang 16 sliding in a longitudinal recess in the receiver chamber and a head to strike said firing-pin and engaged by the rear face of said breech-block to retract the bolt when the breech-plate is retracted, a transverse pin passing through a slot in saidtang to limit the movement of said firing-bolt, a guide-stem 20 mounted on the head of said firing-bolt parallel with and above the tang thereof and guided in a 1011- gitudinal recess in the rear end of the receiver-chamber, a coiled spring mounted on said guide-stem, a vertically-reciprocating' sear having a nose to engage over the front end of said firing-bolt when retracted, a trigger-lever having a finger-piece and an arm engaging said sear to move it vertically, means for locking said breech-plate in forward position, an extractor-bolt reciprocably I 5 mounted below the barrel and in advance of the firing-bolt, a spring pressing against the forward end of said extractor to project-the same rearwardly, and means for releasing said extractor-bolt when the breech-plate is with- 20 drawn.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH BINCETTE.

Witnesses:

I M. T. BEAUPARLANT,

O. GEYETTE. 

